Katherine Lynn Kelly
#KLKlovesart
“Untitled” was painted during my senior year in high school. I struggled with anxiety and sleep deprivation became a serious issue, as I would attend school with no sleep. I had a difficult time expressing how I felt due to the lack of sleep and had overwhelming emotions I didn't know how to deal with. Quickly, I received the help I needed and found painting was a major stress reliever.
I realized painting was more than a stress release; it was a platform for me to share my voice. During my senior year, I discovered the importance of art and painting. Painting was freeing, and allowed me to communicate when I couldn’t with words.
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After receiving comments on "Untitled" it gave me a new found confidence that my pain and struggle could turn into something meaningful and beautiful. The mild blues can represent depression but I feel like the light blues also represent a calming sense of hope. “Untitled” to me is like looking up at the sky wondering, reflecting, and trying to figure out what's next.
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UNTITLED
unexpected chaos
ASP 2017
ONE WEEK
Behind the Paint
Appalachia Service Project or ASP is a non-governmental organization which was founded in 1969. ASP improves substandard housing using volunteer donations and labor to repair homes with severe damage. This year was my ninth time going on ASP, and this year I went as an adult leader in Lincoln County WV. Going on ASP, was an eye opening experience for me as a teenager. It’s incredibly easy to take for granted the basic needs we have in our lives. ASP opens people’s eyes and hearts to understand the struggles of the people who live in the Appalachian regions. It’s an incredible feeling to serve others and to visually see how one nail can go a long way, especially when repairing a structure of a home.
I remember the night I painted, “Unexpected Chaos” very vividly. It was a Monday evening and could not fall asleep. I was restless and whatever I tried to do, I could not sleep. The lack of sleep irritated me and I couldn’t take it anymore. I got out of bed and rushed over to my art station in the dark in my apartment. Aggressively, I grabbed an empty canvas and blindly grabbed colors. The next thing I knew, I was painting and crying. I had no clue why I was crying. I had a wonderful weekend visiting friends and I was generally happy. So, while I was painting, I asked myself, “Why are you crying?”
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Looking back, I know it was the sleep deprivation that caused the tears when I painted “Unexpected Chaos.” The painting made me realized I could be happier, I could be better. Often, we find ways to be content with the life we have and forget the truth; we can always be stronger and better. This was the beginning of me realizing how easy it was for me to hide the artist inside. It’s never a good thing to suppress the best parts of who you are, the best parts brings us the most happiness.
The title “One Week” is simple as the painting took me one week to complete. The significant of “One Week” to me is the week that I painted it. “One Week” reflects how I used my stress, frustration, and anxiety in a positive way. Each night, I would come home and the first thing I would do is paint. I was not going to allow situations I couldn't control dictated my mood. I knew I could control my happiness at home. So, I started painting.
I needed to release my stress and I was not going to turn to old habits that would have a negative impact. Each day, I picked a new color and allowed the paint to speak for itself. “One Week” is controlled chaos in the brushstrokes and colors, as each color represents different emotions. "One Week" represents how stress and anxiety can be used in a positive way instead of self-destructive.